Identifying root cause - Saliva tests

Diagnosis is confirmed, what's next?

Saliva tests

Why is a saliva test for viruses necessary for a child with enlarged adenoids?

The salivary glands and the lymphadenoid pharynx ring are part of the same lymphatic basin. Chronic herpes virus infections in the salivary glands can trigger adenoid hypertrophy. Numerous studies have established this connection.

For instance, in a domestic study conducted in 2018, positive test results for herpes viruses were found in 65% of cases—specifically, in 130 out of 200 children who underwent both conservative and surgical treatments, including adenectomy and adenotonsillectomy, in the ENT department.

Herpes viruses predominantly reside in the salivary glands, making quantitative analysis of saliva for the DNA of herpes group viruses (including herpes 1, 2, 6 types, cytomegalovirus, and Epstein-Barr virus) the most informative method of diagnosis.

Checking for IgG antibodies in the blood is generally impractical since nearly all individuals have come into contact with this group of viruses, leading to the formation of antibodies. As a result, elevated levels of IgG antibodies in the blood may indicate that the child has either recently experienced an infection or is in continual contact with a carrier of the virus.

Please let us know where you are based and we will help you to find suitable lab to run the tests.